The rings of Saturn have a differentiated atmosphere

2005/09/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Astronomia

According to studies with the Cassini-Huygens probe, the rings of Saturn have a differentiated atmosphere. This atmosphere is composed mainly of molecular oxygen. Apparently, this oxygen is due to the water of the rings, which when evaporating loses hydrogen and leaves oxygen in the atmosphere. On the other hand, the rotation speed of Saturn has decreased. Compared to measurements made in the 1970s and 1980s, Saturn currently rotates seven minutes more slowly. At the moment they cannot explain this fact.